Here's How That Riley Cooper Tape Got Out

Yesterday afternoon, we received an email from a tipster who wanted to sell us the video clip in which Riley Cooper threatens to "fight every nigger" at a Kenny Chesney concert. After a bit of negotiating, we decided to pass on purchasing the tape, and Crossing Broad ended up breaking the story. Here's how that negotiation went down:

From: [Redacted]To: tips@deadspin.comSubject: Riley cooper video

I have a video of philadelphia eagles wide receiver riley cooper using the n word in a derogatory way. This is a video me and my friends obtained through a girl who took it who was hanging out with cooper at the kenny Chesney concert in Philly where this video was taken. Only a few people have this video and were are looking to see what sites/radio stations have interest in it. Let me know what you think.

[Redacted]

Sent from my iPhone

From: Tom LeyTo: [Redacted]

Yeah, we'd be interested. Can you tell us more about exactly what the video shows?

From: [Redacted]To: Tom Ley

He's at the Kenny Chesney concert and is all angry and says bro I will jump this fence and fight every nigger here

Sent from my iPhone

From: Tom LeyTo: [Redacted]

And it's clearly Riley Cooper? If the video quality is good, we'd definitely be interested in posting it. Are you looking for payment?

From: [Redacted]To: Tom Ley

Ya we were seeing what people offer.

Sent from my iPhone

From: Tom LeyTo: [Redacted]

Got it. We would be willing to offer $23.17.

From: [Redacted]To: Tom Ley

Crossing broad offered 100$

Sent from my iPhone

We checked in with Crossing Broad to see if they ended up paying the $100:

From: Tom LeyTo: Crossing Broad

Hey guys,

Was just curious, did you guys end up paying the $100 for the Riley Cooper tape? The guy was trying to sell it to us, too, and he said that was what you guys were offering.

Hope everything is going well.

From: Crossing BroadTo: Tom Ley

Hey Tom,

I did pay for it. Got a hold of him yesterday and offered a bit more than $100 (not much) if I could see the entire thing first. He obliged. He sent it over on good faith that I wouldn't run it without paying him first.

Thanks for the citation on the post. As I'm sure you know, quite a few outlets didn't bother with that courtesy. To their credit, ESPN went out of their way to wait for permission before using it on-air.

And that's how your Riley-Cooper-is-a-racist sausage gets made.